Shloka 5.50.17
रावण-प्रहस्त-हनूमद्वार्ता (Ravana and Prahasta Question Hanuman)
राजानं द्रष्टुकामेन मयास्त्रमनुवर्तितम्।।।।विमुक्तो ह्यहमस्त्रेण राक्षसैस्त्वभिपीडितः।केनचिद्राजकार्येण सम्प्राप्तोऽस्मि तवान्तिकम्।।।।
tatas te rākṣasāḥ prāptā balino yuddhakāṅkṣiṇaḥ |
rakṣaṇārthaṃ tu dehasya pratiyuddhā mayā raṇe ||
“Then those powerful rākṣasas came, eager to fight; and in battle I fought back only to protect my own body.”
"Wishing to see the king I honoured this astra and not otherwise. Even though I was tormented by the ogres and released by the astra I submitted to you as I have a small work assigned by the king.
Justified force: violence is framed as defensive (ātma-rakṣā), not aggression—an ethical boundary on the use of strength.
After Hanumān’s provocations, rākṣasa warriors attack him; he explains that his fighting was retaliatory and defensive.
Restraint—Hanumān presents his combat as necessity, not cruelty.